Bladder cancer: ESMO Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up

Abstract

n Europe, an estimated 151 297 new cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed in 2012, with an age-standardised incidence rate (per 100 000 persons) of 17.7 for males and 3.5 for females. Overall, the annual crude incidence rate is 20.4/100 000. In 2012, there were 52 395 deaths from bladder cancer with an annual crude mortality rate of 7.1/100 000 [1]. Approximately 70% of patients with bladder cancer are >65 years of age. The most common presenting symptom is painless haematuria, seen in >80% of patients. Others may also present with irritative symptoms such as dysuria, frequency or urgency. Symptoms of metastases such as bone or flank pain are rare. Most diagnosed cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC; 80%–90%) present as primary invasive bladder cancer. However, up to 15% of patients have a history of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), mainly high-risk cases.